Facing Fear with Faith: Worship, Obedience, and Remembrance

Summary

Back to School Sunday is a special time to remember that every young person, from kindergarten through college, is not just the future of the church—they are the church right now. As a community, we celebrate and send out our students, teachers, and school staff with love, encouragement, and prayer, believing that God has a purpose for each of them wherever they go. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us not to fear, for God is with us, strengthening and upholding us. This truth is not just for students, but for all of us, especially as we face the anxieties and uncertainties that come with new seasons and challenges.

Fear is a universal experience. While some fears are lighthearted—like spiders or public speaking—others run deep, touching our sense of worth, belonging, and security. The Israelites in Ezra 3 faced real, tangible fears as they returned to their homeland, surrounded by hostile neighbors. Yet, in the face of fear, they chose obedience to God over self-protection. Instead of building walls or fortifying their homes, their first act was to gather in unity and worship, building an altar to the Lord. This act of worship, right in the open and in the presence of their enemies, was a profound declaration of faith and trust in God’s sovereignty.

Obedience, worship, and remembrance are the three responses modeled for us in Ezra 3. Obedience means choosing God’s way even when fear tempts us to retreat or compromise. Worship, especially in the midst of fear, reorients our hearts to God’s power and faithfulness, reminding us that He is greater than anything we face. Remembrance anchors us in the history of God’s faithfulness—not just in our own lives, but throughout generations. The Feast of Booths was a living testimony for Israel, a way to remember how God provided in the wilderness, giving them courage for the present.

As we step into new beginnings—whether a school year, a new job, or a season of uncertainty—let us not be ruled by fear. Instead, let us obey God’s call, worship Him in the midst of our anxieties, and remember His unchanging faithfulness. Whatever fears we face, they are never greater than our God, who has conquered even death itself. May we go forward with courage, knowing that God truly has our back.

Key Takeaways

- Obedience in the Face of Fear
When confronted with fear, the Israelites in Ezra 3 chose to obey God’s command rather than give in to self-preservation. True faith is often revealed not when fear is absent, but when we choose to follow God despite our anxieties. Obedience may require risk and vulnerability, but it is the path to experiencing God’s presence and provision. Ask yourself: are there fears keeping you from obeying God’s call in your life? [44:04]

- Worship as a Weapon Against Fear
The Israelites’ first act upon returning to Jerusalem was to build an altar and worship, even before securing their safety. Worship in the midst of fear is not denial of danger, but a declaration that God is greater than our circumstances. When we worship, we shift our focus from what threatens us to the One who holds all things in His hands. Make worship your first response, not your last resort, when fear arises. [47:00]

- Remembering God’s Faithfulness
The Feast of Booths was a tangible way for Israel to remember God’s past provision and faithfulness during times of uncertainty. Remembrance is not passive nostalgia; it is an active discipline that fuels hope and courage for today. When we recall how God has carried us and others through trials, we are strengthened to trust Him with our current fears. What stories of God’s faithfulness do you need to call to mind today? [53:08]

- Fear Masquerading as Discernment
Sometimes, what we call “discernment” is actually fear in disguise, keeping us from stepping out in faith. The Israelites could have justified staying home to protect themselves, but that would have been acquiescing to fear rather than trusting God. True discernment is rooted in God’s Word and character, not in our desire for comfort or control. Examine whether your hesitations are truly wise, or simply fear holding you back. [44:04]

- God’s Presence Transforms Our Perspective
Isaiah 41:10 assures us that God is with us, upholding and strengthening us in every circumstance. The presence of God does not always remove the source of our fear, but it changes how we face it. When we remember who God is—His power, love, and faithfulness—our fears lose their grip, and we find courage to move forward. Let God’s presence be your anchor and assurance, no matter what you face. [51:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:39] - Students Called Forward & Blessing
[21:55] - Identity and Purpose for Students
[23:51] - Prayer for Students
[25:00] - Honoring and Praying for Teachers
[28:26] - Back to School Celebrations & Gifts
[29:53] - Naming Our Fears: From Phobias to Deep Anxieties
[33:12] - Facing Soul-Level Fears
[33:57] - Ezra 3: Israel’s Response to Fear
[36:00] - The Context: Returning to a Hostile Land
[42:23] - Obedience vs. Self-Preservation
[45:57] - Worship Before Walls: The Priority of the Altar
[48:01] - Worship in the Midst of Tragedy: Charleston Example
[51:21] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[53:08] - The Feast of Booths: Living Testimony
[56:07] - Practicing Worship in the Face of Fear
[57:06] - Prayer and Invitation to Respond
[59:10] - Communion and Baptism: Remembering and Professing
[01:00:23] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Back to School Sunday – “In the Face of Fear”

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### Bible Reading

Ezra 3:1-7 (ESV)
When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Then arose Jeshua, the son of Josedach, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his kinsmen. And they built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands. And they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Ezra 3, what did the Israelites do first when they returned to Jerusalem, and why was this significant given their situation? ([33:57])
2. What specific fears did the Israelites face as they returned to their homeland, and how does the text describe their emotional state? ([36:00])
3. In Isaiah 41:10, what promises does God make to His people, and how might these have been meaningful to the Israelites in Ezra 3?
4. What was the purpose of the Feast of Booths, and how did it serve as a reminder for the Israelites? ([53:08])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the Israelites chose to obey God’s command to gather and worship, even though it meant leaving their new homes vulnerable? What does this reveal about their priorities and faith? ([42:23])
2. The sermon mentioned that worship was the Israelites’ first response to fear, not their last resort. What does this suggest about the role of worship in facing our own fears? ([47:00])
3. The Feast of Booths was a time of remembering God’s faithfulness in the past. How can intentional acts of remembrance help us deal with present fears or anxieties? ([53:08])
4. The pastor said that sometimes what we call “discernment” is actually fear in disguise. How can someone tell the difference between wise caution and fear that is holding them back from obeying God? ([44:04])

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### Application Questions

1. The Israelites obeyed God even when it meant taking a risk and leaving their homes exposed. Is there an area in your life where fear is tempting you to play it safe instead of obeying God? What would it look like to choose obedience this week? ([42:23])
2. When you feel afraid or anxious, what is your usual first response? How could you make worship—whether through music, prayer, or another practice—your first response instead of your last resort? ([50:33])
3. The sermon talked about remembering God’s faithfulness as a way to find courage. Can you share a specific time when God was faithful to you in the past? How might recalling that story help you with something you’re facing now? ([53:08])
4. Have you ever justified not stepping out in faith by calling it “discernment” or “wisdom,” when it was really just fear? How can you honestly evaluate your motives the next time you hesitate to obey God? ([44:04])
5. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” What would it look like for you to live as if God truly “has your back” in a situation that makes you anxious right now? ([21:55])
6. The Israelites built an altar and worshiped in the open, even with enemies watching. Is there a way you can publicly or openly express your faith this week, even if it feels vulnerable or risky? ([45:57])
7. The pastor mentioned that sometimes naming our fears—writing them down or sharing them—can be an act of worship and surrender. Is there a fear you need to name and bring to God or your group today? ([58:13])

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Closing Thought:
Whatever fears you face this season—whether starting school, a new job, or something else—remember that God’s presence, faithfulness, and power are greater than anything that threatens you. Let’s encourage each other to obey, worship, and remember together.

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence Overcomes Our Fear

God promises to be with us wherever we go, no matter what we face or how intimidating our circumstances may seem. His presence is not limited by our environment, our age, or our abilities; He goes with us into every classroom, workplace, and challenge. When we remember that our identity and security are rooted in what God says about us, not in what others say or in our own fears, we can step forward with courage. God’s assurance is that He will strengthen, help, and uphold us, so we need not be dismayed or afraid. [22:55]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to remember that God is with you and has your back today? How might that change the way you approach your fears?


Day 2: Obedience in the Face of Fear

When confronted with real and legitimate fears, we are faced with a choice: to obey God or to obey our fears. The Israelites, surrounded by uncertainty and potential danger, chose to obey God’s command to gather in Jerusalem, even though it meant leaving their new homes vulnerable. Obedience to God often requires us to step out in faith, even when it feels risky or uncomfortable. True faith is not waiting for all fear to disappear, but choosing to trust and follow God above our anxieties, knowing that He is greater than any threat we face. [43:07]

Ezra 3:1-3 (ESV)
“When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.”

Reflection: Is there a specific area where fear is keeping you from obeying God? What is one step of obedience you can take today, even if you feel afraid?


Day 3: Worship as Our First Response to Fear

In moments of fear, our natural instinct may be to protect ourselves, build walls, or strategize for safety. Yet, the Israelites’ first act upon arriving in Jerusalem was to build an altar and worship God, not to fortify their defenses. Worship in the face of fear is a profound act of faith—it reorients our hearts to God’s sovereignty and reminds us that He is bigger than any threat. When we choose to worship instead of worry, we declare that our trust is in the God who creates, sustains, and delivers, not in our own ability to control outcomes. [47:00]

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV)
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

Reflection: The next time you feel fear rising, how can you intentionally turn to worship—through song, prayer, or gratitude—instead of letting fear take over?


Day 4: Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Remembering how God has been faithful in the past gives us hope and courage for the present. The Feast of Booths was a living testimony for the Israelites, reminding them of God’s provision and protection during their ancestors’ journey through the wilderness. In the same way, recalling God’s track record in our own lives—how He has brought us through challenges before—can strengthen our faith when new fears arise. Remembering is not passive; it is an intentional act that calls to mind God’s steadfast love and mercy, which never fail. [53:45]

Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV)
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Reflection: What is one specific way God has been faithful to you in the past? How can remembering this help you face your current fears?


Day 5: Fear Does Not Have the Final Word

Fear is a real part of life, but it does not have to control or define us. There is a God who is above every fear, who has conquered even sin and death through Jesus Christ. When we surrender our fears to Him, we find freedom and hope. Our acts of obedience, worship, and remembrance are not just responses to fear—they are declarations that God is our Lord, not our anxieties. In Christ, we are invited to live boldly, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love or overcome His power. [57:06]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflection: What fear do you need to surrender to God today, trusting that His love and power are greater than anything you face?

Quotes

In the face of legitimate fear, they went because they were obeying God. In the face of fear, fear, we have a choice of whether we will obey God or obey our fear of men. That's almost always the choice. [00:42:47] (20 seconds)  #ObeyNotFear Edit Clip

When we fear God above all else, we end up fearing nothing else. The risk and the fear that these Israelites were facing were real, but they were more inclined to obey God than to give in to their fears. [00:43:32] (18 seconds)  #FearMasquerades Edit Clip

I'm afraid that too often fear masquerades as discernment. And we end up simply obeying man, acquiescing to our fears and not obeying God. And we call it discernment. [00:43:50] (16 seconds)  #FearsVsObedience Edit Clip

Did you notice that when they got back to Jerusalem and they come for this feast that the first thing they didn't do was build a wall? They didn't build a barracks. The first thing they did wasn't recruit a military. They didn't hold a training camp or a strategy session on how to reject these enemies or defeat them. In the face of fear, the very first thing they do is worship. That's the first thing they do. [00:45:57] (27 seconds)  #WorshipTransformsFear Edit Clip

We're not worshiping a God who is below our fears. We are worshiping a God who can speak things into existence, who created the heavens and the earth. He can part waters, provide food from thin air, shut the mouths of lions, topple kings, raise the dead, and cast demons into pigs. That's our God. Whatever I am afraid of pales in comparison to that God. And when I worship, it reminds my heart of that truth. [00:50:56] (35 seconds)  #FaithConquersFear Edit Clip

When I come face to face with fear, I need only remember how God has been faithful always and will be faithful for forever. No matter what the fear is, even all the way to death. Like that's most people's greatest fear is death. God conquered that too. So what do we have to be afraid of that is bigger than our God? [00:54:52] (29 seconds)  #ObeyDespiteFear Edit Clip

You may have legit forms of phobia like we listed at the beginning. You definitely have deep -seated soul level probably fears. I do. Don't let those fears keep you from obeying God. What is it that you need to believe God and obey him for in spite of your fear? Maybe it's being baptized. Maybe it's being generous. Maybe it's being vulnerable and asking for forgiveness or confessing. Will you obey above your fear? [00:55:31] (36 seconds)  #WorshipInFear Edit Clip

Practice worshiping in the face of your fear. Get in the habit of any time, you know, you feel yourself getting afraid to turn the music up louder. That's just one form of worship. Maybe it's to find a prayer closet. Whatever it is, turn up the worship. Lift your hands and surrender and look at, think of the picture of the altar without walls. It's exposed. All the enemy's looking on and Israel is building an altar. They're not doing what other people do. Other people fashion swords and shields and build walls first. No, the Israelites built an altar and right in the presence of their enemies, we sing it, they raise a hallelujah. [00:56:07] (44 seconds)  #AltarNotArmor Edit Clip

Fear is not your God. It does not have to control you. It does not have to dominate you. There is a God above this, the Lord of all heaven and earth, who speaks things into existence and who gave his son for you so that we don't even have to be afraid of sin and death anymore. [00:57:06] (21 seconds)  #GodAboveFear Edit Clip